The Joint Awami Action Committee’s (JAAC) long march in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) gathered momentum on Tuesday, with its leaders striking an increasingly defiant tone amid a widening crackdown, reports of fresh clashes, and growing anger over the deaths that have rocked the region over the past three days. Declaring the first phase of the campaign a success, JAAC chairman Shaukat Mir announced that the movement had successfully completed “Plan A” on the opening day of the march.
“We have successfully completed the first day of the long march according to our Plan A,” Mir told supporters, before directly responding to allegations of treason levelled against the movement by authorities.
“The accusations of treason that have been made against
us will soon have to be withdrawn. I would rather take a bullet first,” he said, signalling that the organisation had no intention of backing down despite arrests and security operations targeting its leaders and activists.
At the same time, another key JAAC leader, Khawaja Mehran Advocate, entered Poonch with his convoy after travelling through Tatta Pani, drawing crowds of supporters along the route. His arrival came as reports emerged of fresh confrontations between protesters and security personnel in Kotli.
According to local accounts, clashes during demonstrations in Kotli left multiple people injured, including women and children. While the exact toll remains unclear, the incidents added to mounting tensions across the region.
Addressing supporters, Mehran accused authorities of attempting to suppress dissent through force.
“The policy of intimidating Kashmiris through bullets has failed miserably,” he said.
“We will not step back even a single inch, even if our lives, wealth and everything we own are lost.”
The latest developments come against the backdrop of one of the most serious protest movements seen in PoK in recent years. The JAAC-led agitation has escalated sharply following a crackdown by Pakistani authorities, including mass arrests of activists and action against the organisation. The unrest has already turned deadly, with multiple casualties reported during demonstrations and security operations over the past three days.
With the first day of the long march now complete and leaders openly challenging both the crackdown and accusations of treason, the movement appears set to enter a more confrontational phase. As convoys move deeper into PoK and fresh protests continue to erupt, fears are growing that the standoff could lead to further violence in the days ahead.
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